PSA Media Release

Remarkable Maori Unionist to be honoured

The Public Service Association will today award Honorary Life Membership to PSA Kaumatua Kiwhare Mihaka.

“Kiwhare has made a significant contribution to the New Zealand union movement through both the Council of Trade Unions and the PSA,” said PSA President Keith Gutsell.

Kiwhare Mihaka has been a union member since 1957 and a PSA delegate at the Inland Revenue Department since 1990, a position he still holds. Kiwhare is also the Kaumatua for the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. Kiwhare is Te Arawa and currently lives in Dunedin.

“Kiwhare played a particularly important role recruiting and retaining Maori members when the destructive Employment Contracts Act was in force during the 1990s.”

“The awarding of this life membership reflects Kiwhare’s commitment to Maori, to workers and to the New Zealand union movement. This life membership is a tribute to Kiwhare’s contribution to the lives of New Zealand workers,” said Keith Gutsell.

The PSA is New Zealand’s largest union representing over 55,000 members from central and local government, health and community services throughout New Zealand.

Kiwahre will be presented with a Life Membership badge, citation and certificate by PSA President Keith Gutsell and Te Runanga representative Allan Franks at the PSA Congress, 4:45pm on Wednesday 15 November at the Brentwood Hotel in Kilbirnie, Wellington.

ENDS

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